From the Lord Mayor's Office
Politics and creativity come together at WAG
Wollongong’s creative heart has been thriving for many years.
And this week at Wollongong Art Gallery the Greetings from Wollongong exhibition gives us the chance to reflect upon how the arts and politics of the 1980s and 1990s has influenced where we live today.
Curated by Wollongong-born designer, musician and WAH-WAH Australia fashion label founder Kaylene Milner, with Louise Brand, Aneshka Mora and Daniel Mudie Cunningham, the exhibition features the iconic works from Redback Graphix (1979-1994) as well as the work of local film director Mary Callaghan (1955-2016).
It’s a colourful affair and one that considers where we have come from as a community and how the city’s industry, migration and political scene has impacted the Wollongong of today.
It’s great to see the works of Redback Graphix that were a familiar feature of the city 40 years ago back again. However, I’m particularly excited to see the creative collaboration that has come through the exhibition with Kaylene developing a WAH-WAH Wollongong design to compliment the show.
It’s a huge collaboration, and it’s not everyday that there’s the potential for jumpers and totes with Wollongong emblazoned upon them to be worn around the world. I look forward to hearing about those in the Wollongong diaspora spotting them on the fashionable streets of London and New York.
Congratulations to all those involved in this exhibition. We’ve had quite a range of works gracing the walls of Wollongong Art Gallery this year! The program of related events – including a school holiday printmaking workshop, film program, and panel talks and more – are sure to keep bringing people through the Burelli Street doors.
